diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 965e78d..00cc019 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@ var app = angular.module('myApp', ['vcRecaptcha']);
 
 Here, the `key` attribute is passed to the directive's scope, so you can use either a property in your scope or just a hardcoded string. Be careful to use your public key, not your private one.
 
+Form Validation
+---------------
+**By default**, if placed in a [form](https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ng/directive/form) using [formControl](https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ng/type/form.FormController) the captcha will need to be checked for the form to be valid.
+If the captcha is not checked (if the user has not checked the box or the check has expired) the form will be marked as invalid. The validation key is `recaptcha`.
+You can **opt out** of this feature by setting the `required` attribute to `false` or a scoped variable 
+that will evaluate to `false`. Any other value, or omitting the attribute will opt in to this feature.
+
 Response Validation
 -------------------
 
diff --git a/src/directive.js b/src/directive.js
index 386b5ea..4de5297 100644
--- a/src/directive.js
+++ b/src/directive.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
                 size: '=?',
                 type: '=?',
                 tabindex: '=?',
+                required: '=?',
                 onCreate: '&',
                 onSuccess: '&',
                 onExpire: '&'
@@ -32,6 +33,10 @@
 
                 scope.widgetId = null;
 
+                if(ctrl && angular.isDefined(attrs.required)){
+                    scope.$watch('required', validate);
+                }
+
                 var removeCreationListener = scope.$watch('key', function (key) {
                     if (!key) {
                         return;
@@ -44,10 +49,9 @@
                     var callback = function (gRecaptchaResponse) {
                         // Safe $apply
                         $timeout(function () {
-                            if(ctrl){
-                                ctrl.$setValidity('recaptcha',true);
-                            }
                             scope.response = gRecaptchaResponse;
+                            validate();
+
                             // Notify about the response availability
                             scope.onSuccess({response: gRecaptchaResponse, widgetId: scope.widgetId});
                         });
@@ -64,9 +68,7 @@
 
                     }).then(function (widgetId) {
                         // The widget has been created
-                        if(ctrl){
-                            ctrl.$setValidity('recaptcha',false);
-                        }
+                        validate();
                         scope.widgetId = widgetId;
                         scope.onCreate({widgetId: widgetId});
 
@@ -88,14 +90,19 @@
                 }
 
                 function expired(){
-                    if(ctrl){
-                        ctrl.$setValidity('recaptcha',false);
-                    }
                     scope.response = "";
+                    validate();
+
                     // Notify about the response availability
                     scope.onExpire({widgetId: scope.widgetId});
                 }
 
+                function validate(){
+                    if(ctrl){
+                        ctrl.$setValidity('recaptcha', scope.required === false ? null : Boolean(scope.response));
+                    }
+                }
+
                 function cleanup(){
                   // removes elements reCaptcha added.
                   angular.element($document[0].querySelectorAll('.pls-container')).parent().remove();